Life insurance with no medical

Unless you’re a hypochondriac, the thought of a medical and being poked and prodded isn’t really something to relish, and this could put you off sorting out your life insurance. It shouldn’t though, because not all policies will ask you to undress behind a curtain; so keep yourself covered and read on.

Yes – you can, but it depends on your individual circumstances. When you apply for life insurance you’ll be asked lots of general health questions such as your age, your weight, whether you smoke and how much you drink.

If your answers suggest that you’re relatively young(ish) and healthy e.g. non-smoker, occasional drinker with a perfect height to weight ratio then chances are you probably won’t need a medical or doctors report. If, however, you’re no spring chicken and have chain smoked through a life of excess then you probably would need one.

What’s the point of a medical?

Your premium is dependent on multiple factors – things like your overall health (hence all the nosey questions) and whether you or your family have any history of medical conditions (past or present).

Having a medical or getting hold of a doctor’s report allows your insurance provider to give you an accurate premium based on your individual circumstances and lifestyle. The insurance provider will usually foot the bill of a medical, it’ll be done somewhere that’s convenient to you, and it will be carried out by a doctor or nurse.

As a general rule, the healthier you are, the lower your premiums are likely to be, because there’s less chance of you knocking on those pearly gates any time soon. This is why it’s also worth noting that as your age increases, so too does the potential cost of your premium, so it’s worth taking out a policy when you’re young.

As tempting as it is to paint a glossy, airbrushed picture of you and your health, be honest when it comes to your life insurance. If you said you didn’t smoke and it comes to light that you get through 20 cigs a day, then you could invalidate your entire policy.

But do I need life insurance?

Life insurance is designed to pay out a lump sum (or monthly instalments) in the event of your death. While that doesn’t make for cheerful reading, it’s important to think about the financial welfare of your loved ones after you’ve gone.

It’s worth considering the different types of life insurance if you have family who are dependent on your income. And if you’re a stay at home parent or carer, don’t underestimate your value; if something happened to you, who would cover the cost of the care you give?

There are two main types of life insurance – term life insurance which includes both leveland decreasing term policies and whole of life policies (also known as life assurance) . Which one you choose will depend on what your family will need the money for – whether it’s just for funeral expenses or if it’s to pay off the mortgage, loans or school fees for example?

If you do decide to take out life insurance, it’s worth getting the policy put ‘in trust’. All it does is separate your life insurance from your assets so that the money from your policy isn’t taxed – unlike your assets which are subject to inheritance tax.

How can I save money on my life insurance?

If you want the best prices for life insurance, you need to show that you take care of yourself. Whilst there will be areas that you’ve got no control over – such as your family’s health history or if you have an existing condition, there are plenty of other factors that you can control. We’re not saying live like a monk but perhaps cut out the smoking, and if you like more than an occasional tipple, well – perhaps give your liver an occasional rest. It’s also worth trimming back the pounds and swapping biscuits for bananas.

Finding a policy to suit you

Life insurance doesn’t have to be expensive, we found that half our customers could get cover for as little as £5 a month** – a small price to pay for peace of mind. So why not see what’s available. Whether you need clarification about the different types of life insurance, or want to find out aboutjoint cover, we can help.

Or perhaps you’re worried because you’re not as young as you once were and fear you can’t get a policy. It’s never too late though! Read our guide to over 60s life insurance and you can compare cover with our over 50s life insurance. Whatever stage of life you’re at, make your future one to look forward to – start planning early and with the right level of cover you can rest assured that you’re family could have the financial security they need.

**Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence during May 2016, 50% of people could achieve a premium of £5.00 a month during the period April 2015-May 2016 cheapest premiums. Quotes are based on a £100,000 decreasing term policy over 10 years with guaranteed premiums for a non-smoker, aged 30.

*Rewards: 2for1 cinema tickets on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at participating cinemas for 12 months from date of purchase, one membership per 12 months. Qualifying Purchases only. For new Meerkat Movies members it can take up to 48 hours to validate your details and you may not be able to activate your membership on the day of purchase. Meerkat toys available to claim on subsequent Qualifying Purchases made within 12 months of your initial purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

^ For the period 1st June to 31st August 2016, 5149 people responded to the recommend question, 4726 responded with a score of 6 or above, therefore 91.8% (or 9/10) would recommend us to a friend or family member.

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